How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawyer Cost in California?
Fee questions are the most common reason injured people delay calling a lawyer. In California the structure is standardized enough that you can evaluate any agreement with a short checklist.
Fee structures you may be offered
| Structure | How it works | Typically used for |
|---|---|---|
| Contingency fee | The attorney is paid a percentage of the recovery. If there is no recovery, no attorney fee is owed. The rate must appear in a signed written agreement. | Nearly all injury and wrongful death matters. |
| Tiered contingency | The percentage changes at defined stages, such as before suit is filed versus after a case is set for trial, reflecting the added work. | Cases likely to require litigation. |
| Hourly or flat fee | Billed per hour or as a fixed amount, paid regardless of outcome. | Uncommon in injury work; used for document review or discrete advice. |
Fees vs. case costs
- Fees pay for the attorney’s work. Costs pay third parties.
- Common case costs: court filing fees, medical and police records, deposition transcripts, expert review, investigator time, and service of process.
- The agreement should say whether the firm advances costs and whether costs are deducted before or after the fee is calculated.
- Medical liens and health-plan reimbursement rights are separate again and are resolved out of the recovery at the end of the case.
Questions to ask before you sign
- Is the fee rate the same before and after a lawsuit is filed?
- Who advances case costs, and what happens to them if there is no recovery?
- Are costs deducted before or after the fee is calculated?
- Who negotiates medical liens, and is that included in the fee?
- Who will actually handle my file day to day?
Common questions
Is a free consultation really free?
A case evaluation is normally free and creates no obligation. An attorney-client relationship only begins when both sides sign a written agreement.
Are contingency rates set by California law?
For most injury cases the rate is negotiable and must be disclosed as negotiable in the written agreement. Certain case types, such as claims against health care providers, are subject to statutory limits.
What if I change lawyers mid-case?
The first firm may assert a lien for the value of its work and advanced costs. That is normally resolved between the firms out of the same recovery rather than billed to you separately.
Ask about fees before you commit
Brandon Aminpour will walk you through the fee agreement line by line during a free case evaluation.
Call (323) 879-9777Related cost guides
Fee structures described here are general information about California practice, not a quote and not legal advice. Your written fee agreement controls. Blackrock Law Group is licensed in California. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.